Wafricnews - June 10, 2025

In a legal turn hailed as a major victory for women's voices in Hollywood, actress Blake Lively says she feels "vindicated" after a U.S. federal judge dismissed a $400 million defamation lawsuit filed against her by actor-director Justin Baldoni.

The court decision, issued Monday, also threw out related claims against Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, and the New York Times. Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively’s previous legal complaint, which included allegations of sexual harassment, was protected under California law and could not serve as grounds for Baldoni’s retaliation.

“This was a sham lawsuit from day one,” said Lively’s attorneys Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb. “The court saw through it entirely.”

Baldoni, best known for Jane the Virgin, had filed the massive lawsuit after Lively accused him of misconduct during their time working on the film It Ends With Us. He also accused Lively, Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane of damaging his reputation with what he called a “smear campaign.” The court found those claims legally unsubstantiated.

Lively, 37, responded on Instagram, saying:

She vowed to continue standing for women's right to speak up about abuse, emphasizing the importance of dignity, safety, and storytelling for survivors.

Lively’s legal team also announced plans to pursue attorney’s fees, treble damages, and punitive action against Baldoni for what they called “abusive litigation.”

The dismissed case comes amid ongoing public conversations around power, retaliation, and accountability in the entertainment industry. Lively initially filed her complaint in December 2024, detailing allegations of sexual harassment and emotional distress — though she later withdrew the latter claim after Baldoni’s team sought access to her private medical records.

Though the emotional distress claim was withdrawn, the judge denied Lively’s request to dismiss it “without prejudice,” meaning it could still return to court.

Baldoni, 41, has denied all allegations. His legal team has not yet responded to the ruling.


By Wafricnews Desk.